12 brothers is a lot! I know an Irish fairy story about a girl with 7 brothers who get turned into swans. She has to remain silent for 1 year (or is it 10?!) or else they will stay as swans for ever. I wonder if this story is similar?

I have a story from the Brother’s Grimm – similar = silence + magic + turned into swans. I will try to put it up soon!
It is a large number of brothers – especial since they all look pretty much the same!
Elephant